£4m investment for North Tyneside to save borough from floods

North Tyneside Surface Water and Drainage Partnership have published a list of work done so far to prevent future flooding in the area

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Flood water covering cars at Westmoor

More than £4.75m is to be invested in North Tyneside to protect the area against future flooding.

After some of the worst floods ever seen in the region, agencies including Northumbrian Water, the Environment Agency and emergency services joined forces with North Tyneside Council to create the North Tyneside Surface Water and Drainage Partnership.

Last night the group published a list of the work done so far and a programme of future projects.

The 50-plus schemes range from minor solutions, such as clearing culverts and replacing grilles to prevent them becoming blocked with debris, to major engineering schemes costing hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Areas tackled include Chicken Road in Wallsend, Green Lane in Dudley and Briar Vale and Fairfield Green in Whitley Bay.

Coun John Harrison, North Tyneside Council’s cabinet member for housing and the environment, said: “Flooding has such a devastating impact on people’s lives as well as their properties. The North Tyneside Surface Water and Drainage Partnership is determined to do whatever we can to help alleviate the risks and make this borough more flood ready, flood safe – and this package of more than £4m of capital works will make a major contribution to help us do that.”

A new network of flood wardens, replicating an approach already working well in Morpeth, is also being implemented in North Tyneside.

Northumbrian Water’s sewerage manager, Mike Madine, said: “Helping to reduce the likelihood of flooding is one of our top priorities and we know how important this is to our customers.

“As well as investing around ï¿½120m across the North East, between 2010 and 2015, to reduce this risk, we are also making a concerted effort to work more closely with other flood agencies and our customers to help protect our region from flooding. The work being done as part of this partnership clearly reflects this effort and commitment.

“The flood solutions demonstrate a new approach to tackle flooding in a more innovative and sustainable way.”

Richard Robinson, from the Environment Agency, said: “By working together, integrated solutions to flood risk have been identified which will reduce the risk of flooding from multiple sources. We have been able to share experience and best practice which will help in managing flood risk now and in the future.”

The council’s highways and engineering services will be managing the work.

The authority is also leading on the partnership’s improved communication and engagement with the public through its Flood Ready, Flood Safe campaign.